Bobby Knight dies at 83, was married famed Oklahoma high school coach Karen Edgar
Editor's note: This article was originally published on Aug. 24, 2004, and has been republished to reflect the death of former college basketball coach Bob Knight on Nov. 1, 2023.
Karen Edgar Knight looked at the open notebook and the ready ballpoint pen.
Want to chat?
"Not especially, she said.
To say that Knight is soft spoken would be wrong. She is actually unspoken. Silent. Faceless. She was that way when she built a girls basketball powerhouse at Lomega High School back in the 6-on-6 days, and she is that way now as the wife of one of the loudest men in America.
"She gets up in the stands during games, up away from people, longtime friend Kelli Litsch said. "She doesn't have that half-court seat or anything like that.
Married to the man at the center of a Hoosier firestorm and a Red Raider revival, Knight does not grant interviews. Does not seek the spotlight. Does not talk to folks outside her tight circle.
Which says just how much Litsch means to her.
Knight came to Oklahoma City on Monday to give a speech, of all things. She presented Litsch during the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
"For a girl that grew up in Fay and went to school in Thomas and had 37 in her high school graduating class, Litsch said, "it's an unbelievable honor.
Fay knows about Litsch, the little girl with one of the few basketball hoops in that no-stoplight town. Thomas knows about Litsch, the high school phenom who scored more career points than any boy or girl ever had in Oklahoma's prep history. Southwestern Oklahoma State knows about her, too, the woman who could've gone to any school but instead chose the small NAIA program and made it the country's best.
And Knight knew about Litsch.
Or at least she tried to know about Litsch. Knight coached before there were tape swaps and scouting reports. Information on opponents was scarce, so Knight would sit on the bench during shoot-around, sizing up the competition, looking for tendencies, seeking out advantages.
Litsch fell under that stare whenever Thomas played Lomega.
"She could just look at me, and it was just so intimidating, Litsch said. "Usually, people don't have that kind of affect on me.
Knight watched because she respected Litsch, and Litsch nearly melted for the same reason. The women saw something familiar in one another. That desire to win. That willingness to work. So strong was the bond, it brought the rivals together.
One summer, Knight even taught Litsch to water ski.
"I will do this, Litsch thought as she bobbed in the water. "If she's driving the boat, she will not see me fail.
Knight didn't.
But all these years later, Knight suspects her presence had little to do with Litsch's success.
"She would have gotten up anyway, Knight said. "Anybody that has achieved the level of success she has achieved is going to get up on water skis, no matter who's in the boat.
And yet, who knows where we'll find inspiration and motivation. It isn't always in the likely places. Litsch found it in Knight, and the fiery coach with the white-knuckle intensity found it in the wiry girl with the same attitude.
Knight even asked Litsch to be the keynote speaker at the Lomega all-sports banquet.
"Which was a little overwhelming, Litsch said.
Then again, she was only a senior in high school.
Maybe Litsch exacted payback Monday, asking Knight to present her and give a speech in front of a packed ballroom. Knight didn't mind a bit.
"I have so much respect for her, she said.
Enough to speak.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Bobby Knight dies at 83, was married to famed Okla. coach Karen Edgar
